NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT: Georgetown, Texas

VOLUME IV: NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT

Georgetown, Texas

Compiled by Deirdre Paige

Renters searching for a growing city that maintains a small-town vibe will fall in love with Georgetown, Texas. This little piece of paradise, just 30 minutes north of Austin, is known for its southern hospitality, booming job market, award-winning education and exceptional quality of life.

With a population of approximately 79K, Williamson County’s largest city and county seat has been one of America’s top-10, fastest-growing cities for four years in a row (2015-2018).

Williamson County Courthouse Historic District in Georgetown, Texas

Photo Credit: Renelibrary

Jobs in Georgetown

While Georgetown maintains its small-town charm, this city has experienced dramatic economic growth during the last two decades. The expanding workforce includes employers spread across many industries, including health care, engineering and manufacturing.

Currently, there are over 3,000 businesses in Georgetown. The mass availability of jobs is reflective of a prosperous economy, with a 3.5% increase in the job market since 2020. The future job growth over the next decade is forecast to be 53.6%, which is 20% higher than the U.S. average. The county seat of Williamson County is home to leading companies such as AirBorn and TASUS Corporation, along with Georgetown Healthcare System.

Education in Georgetown

Georgetown Independent School District (GISD) serves grades K-12 and is home to just under 12,000 students.

The district is composed of 10 elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. In addition, GISD offers students an alternative campus, Georgetown Alternative Program (GAP).

Gateway College Preparatory School, a nationally ranked Georgetown public charter school, provides a stellar education for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Quality of Life in Georgetown

Although bikers may not be as impressed with Georgetown’s Bike Score of 35, walkers will be with the Walk Score of 22. The majority of errands are car-dependent in Georgetown; however, it is a reasonably bikeable city.

Shopping, Dining and Entertainment in Georgetown

No matter what you have a taste for, this Central Texas town just off I35 has you covered. Sweet Lemon Kitchen, 600 Degrees Pizzeria and Drafthouse and Monument Cafe are long-time, local favorites for anything from farm-fresh lunch; famous giant pizza slices (and a cold beer); and homestyle, southern breakfasts.

Georgetown Antique Mall is conveniently located on the south side of the historic square, and offers everything from antique stained glass to Civil War memorabilia. Then there’s Wolf Ranch Town Center, the epicenter of modern shopping in Georgetown.

If you love playing outside, enjoy family-friendly fun at the Inner Space Cavern, a spectacular karst cave located in Georgetown. The oldest rock in the cave is roughly 100 million years old, and the Balcones Fault Zone was active approximately 25 million years ago.

Ready for more adventure? Just five minutes outside of the city limits, Georgetown Lake has your next adventure ready! Enjoy these 3,000 acres to go boating, camping, fishing, hiking and water skiing.

Other Notable Facts About Georgetown:

Georgetown is the “Red Poppy” capital of Texas.

Five endangered species live in Georgetown: the Bone Cave harvestman (Texella reyesi), the Tooth Cave Ground Beetle (Rhadine persephone), the Coffin Cave mold beetle, the golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) and the black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapillus).

Sun Texas, a large retirement community, accounts for more than one-third of Georgetown’s population.

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For a landlord, a rental property is an uphill battle against mishaps, calamities, the hands of time and sometimes nature itself. To guard their investment, property owners must plan ahead, maneuver tactfully and sometimes be prepared to cut their losses.